Tape guide device for gardening buncher

ABSTRACT

A rib ( 206   c ) is formed on a ceiling surface of a tape guide mounted on a driver handle of a binding machine for gardening, and two plate springs ( 224   a,    224   b ) are mounted on the bottom plate portion of the tape guide. The plate spring ( 224   a ), which is situated on the downstream side, is elastically contacted with the rib ( 206   c ) to thereby allow the plate spring ( 224   a ) and rib ( 206   c ) to hold tape (T) between them, while the upstream-side plate spring ( 224   b ) is contacted with the tape. When a tape roll is rotated reversely and the tape is thereby pulled back, tension is applied to the tape existing between the rib ( 206   c ) and tape roll, and the upstream-side plate spring ( 224   b ) is raised up due to the friction of the tape to curve a passage of the tape, which increases the frictional resistance of the tape to thereby be able to prevent the tape (T) against reverse movement.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tape guide apparatus in a bindingmachine for gardening and, in particular, to a tape guide apparatus in abinding machine for gardening which can prevent tape against reversemovement.

BACKGROUND ART

In the cultivation of creeping plants such as a grape, a cucumber, amelon and a tomato, in an operation to bind the vines or branches ofthese creeping plants along support posts or trellises, there is used abinding machine for gardening. The binding machine for gardening is atool of a hand-held stapler type which is a combination of a driverhandle and a clincher arm, while a tape magazine is mounted on the rearportion of the driver handle. To use the binding machine for gardening,tape loaded into the tape magazine is pulled out from a tape pull-outopening formed in the leading end portion of the driver handle.

When the driver handle and clincher arm are closed once, the leading endof the tape is caught by a tape clamp device which is disposed on theclincher arm. Then, when the driver handle and clincher arm are opened,the tape is strung between the driver handle and clincher arm. Further,when the tape is wound around the branches of the plant and posts andthen the driver handle and clincher arm are closed with a stronger forcethan the previous time, the overlapped portion of the tape wound aroundthe branches is bound and, at the same time, the cutter blade cuts thetape in the vicinity of the bound portion, thereby separating the tapeloop wound around the branches from the tape main body.

When binding the plant, an operator uses the binding machine forgardening at various attitudes; and, due to the varying attitudes, insome cases, the tape roll existing within the tape magazine can berotated reversely and thus the leading end of the tape can be pulledback into the driver handle. In this case, there is a possibility thatthe tape grip device on the clincher arm side cannot catch the leadingend of the tape on the driver handle side and thus fails to bind theplant; and, the leading end of the tape must be pulled to adjust thetape pull-out amount of the tape, which takes time and labor.

In a conventional binding machine for gardening, a plate spring isdisposed within the driver handle, and the tape is pushed against thewall surface of a tape passage or against a guide by the plate spring toapply pull-out tension to the tape, thereby preventing the tape fromloosening. However, since the reversing preventive action is weak, thereverse movement of the tape occurs frequently. Thus, in order toprevent the reverse movement of the tape, there arise technical problemsto be solved. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to solve theabove problems.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is proposed so as to attain the above object. Thatis, there is provided a tape guide apparatus in a binding machine forgardening, wherein a tape magazine is disposed on a driver handle of astapler, tape loaded into the tape magazine is inserted through thedriver handle and is pulled out from a tape pull-out opening formed inthe leading end of the driver handle, the leading end portion of thetape is clamped by a tape clamp device disposed on a clincher arm, andthe tape is pulled out; and also wherein, a plate spring is mounted inthe interior of the driver handle so as to face forwardly, the tape ispushed against the inner wall surface of the driver handle by the platespring to thereby apply pull-out tension to the tape, characterized inthat the leading end of the plate spring is elastically contacted withthe upper or lower inner wall surface of the driver handle in thevicinity of the front end of the driver handle, and the contact point ofthe plate spring and the tape pull-out opening are shifted up and downto curve the passage of the tape at a sharp angle to thereby prevent thetape against reverse movement.

As the apparatus to attain the above object, there may also be provided,in a binding machine for gardening of a stapler type which includes acombination of a driver handle and a clincher arm, a tape guideapparatus, wherein a cylinder-type tape guide is disposed on the driverhandle and tape loaded into a tape magazine mounted on the rear portionof the driver handle is inserted into the tape guide and is then pulledout from the leading end of the tape guide, characterized in that aprojecting portion is provided on the inner wall surface of the tapeguide, two plate springs are arranged back and forth in series on theinner wall surface of the tape guide that is opposed to the projectingportion, the leading ends of the two plate springs are directed towardthe downstream side of the passage of the tape, the plate situated onthe downstream side is elastically contacted with the projecting portionto thereby allow the plate spring and projection portion to hold thetape between them, the upstream side plate spring is contacted with thetape to apply pull-back resistance to the tape, thereby preventing thetape from being moved reversely.

Further, in the present tape guide apparatus in a binding machine forgardening, preferably, the two plate springs may be formed as anintegrated plate spring composed of two plate springs which are producedby cut working a single plate spring to form a U-shaped cut therein tothereby turn the single plate spring into the above two long and shortplate springs, and the leading end of the upstream side plate spring maybe formed so as to have an angular shape or a notch-like shape.

Moreover, as the apparatus to attain the above object, there may also beprovided, in a binding machine for gardening of a stapler type whichincludes a combination of a driver handle and a clincher arm, a tapeguide apparatus, wherein a cylinder-type tape guide is disposed on thedriver handle and tape loaded into a tape magazine mounted on the rearportion of the driver handle is inserted into the tape guide and is thenpulled out from the leading end of the tape guide, characterized in thattwo plate springs are arranged back and forth in series on the innerwall surface of the tape guide, the leading ends of the two platesprings are directed toward the downstream side of a tape passage, aprojecting portion is disposed on the inner wall surface of the tapeguide that is opposed to the plate spring mounting portion of the tapeguide, the plate spring situated on the downstream side is elasticallycontacted with the projecting portion to thereby allow the plate springand projection portion to hold the tape between them, the upstream sideplate spring is contacted with the tape to apply pull-back resistance tothe tape, thereby preventing the tape against reverse movement.

Further, a fixing stopper may also be mounted over the base portion andmiddle portion of the upstream side plate spring to thereby limit theoscillation angle of the plate spring.

Moreover, there may also be provided a tape guide apparatus in a bindingmachine for gardening in which two plate springs are arranged back andforth in series on the inner wall surface of the tape guide, the leadingends of the two plate springs are directed toward the downstream side ofthe passage of tape, two projecting portions are disposed back and forthin series on the inner wall surfaces of the tape guide that are opposedto the plate spring mounting portions of the tape guide, and the twoplate springs are respectively elastically contacted with theirassociated projecting portions to hold the tape by and between the twopairs of plate springs and projecting portions, thereby applyingpull-back resistance to the tape so as to be able to prevent the tapeagainst reverse movement.

Further, in the present tape guide apparatus in a binding machine forgardening, preferably, the two plate springs may consist of anintegrated plate spring composed of two plate springs which are producedby cut working a single plate spring to form a U-shaped cut therein tothereby turn the single plate spring into the above two long and shortplate springs, and the leading end of the upstream side plate spring maybe formed so as to have an angular shape or a notch-like shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a binding machine for gardening, showing afirst embodiment according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a section view of the front portion of a binding machine forgardening.

FIG. 3 is a section view of a binding machine for gardening, showing astate thereof in which a tape loop is formed.

FIG. 4 is a section view of the front portion of a driver handle,showing a tape guide apparatus according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a section view of the front portion of the driver handle whena tape is pulled out.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a binding machine for gardening, showing asecond embodiment according to the invention.

FIG. 7 is a side section view of a binding machine for gardening,showing its operation process.

FIG. 8 is a side section view of a binding machine for gardening,showing its operation process.

FIG. 9 is a side section view of a binding machine for gardening,showing its operation process.

FIG. 10 is a side section view of a binding machine for gardening,showing its operation process.

FIG. 11 is a side section view of a binding machine for gardening,showing its operation process.

FIG. 12 is a side section view of a binding machine for gardening,showing its operation process.

FIG. 13 is a side section view of the front portion of the driverhandle.

FIGS. 14( a) and 14(b) respectively show a plate spring; specifically,FIG. 14( a) is a plan view of the plate spring and FIG. 14( b) is a sideview thereof.

FIG. 15 is a side section view of the front portion of the driverhandle.

FIG. 16 is a side section view of the front portion of the driverhandle.

FIG. 17 is a side section view of the front portion of the driverhandle.

FIGS. 18( a) and 18(b) respectively show a plate spring; specifically,FIG. 18( a) is a plan view of the plate spring and FIG. 18( b) is a sideview thereof.

FIGS. 19( a) and 19(b) respectively show a plate spring; specifically,FIG. 19( a) is a plan view of the plate spring and FIG. 19( b) is a sideview thereof.

FIG. 20 is a broken view of the front portion of a driver handle.

FIG. 21 is a side section view of the front portion of a driver handleused in a binding machine for gardening according to a third embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 22 is a side section view of the front portion of a driver handleused in a binding machine for gardening according to a fourth embodimentof the invention.

In the drawings, reference character 101 designates a binding machinefor gardening, 102 a driver handle, 103 a clincher arm, 104 a lowerhandle, 105 a tape magazine, 106 a clincher, 107 a picking plate, 108 apush plate, 109 a tape support plate, 110 a staple driver, 111 a staplemagazine, 112 a cutter blade, 113 a handle frame, 114 a handle cover,115 a tape pull-out opening, 116 a plate spring, 201 a binding machinefor gardening, 202 a driver handle, 203 a clincher arm, 204 a lowerhandle, 206 a tape guide, 206 c a rib, 207 a staple magazine, 210 acutter blade, 211 a driver, 212 a clincher, 213 a picking plate, 215 atape support plate, 224 a plate spring, 224 a a long spring portion, 24b a short spring portion, and T tape, respectively.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Now, description will be given below of a first embodiment according tothe invention with reference to the accompanying drawings and, firstly,description will be given below of the whole structure and operation ofa binding machine for gardening according to the first embodiment. FIG.1 shows a binding machine for gardening 101, in which a driver handle102, a clincher arm 103 and a lower handle 104 are combined together ina pliers type, tape for gardening is loaded into a tape magazine 105disposed on the rear portion of the driver handle 102, and the tape isinserted through the interior of the driver handle 102 and is pulled outfrom the leading end portion of the driver handle 102.

As shown in FIG. 2, a clincher 106 is mounted on the leading end portionof the clincher arm 103 and, slightly in front of the clincher 106,there is disposed a tape grip device which is a combination of a pickingplate 107, a push plate 108 and a fixed cam plate (not shown) Althoughnot shown, a pin of the picking plate 107 is engaged with a groove camof the vertically slidable push plate 108 and with a groove cam of afixing cam plate. When the upwardly projecting push plate 108 is presseddown, due to the cooperative operation of the groove cam of the pushplate 108 and the groove cam of the fixing cam plate, the picking plate107 is rotated toward the fore side, so that the push plate 108 islocked at the pushed position thereof. When the push plate 108 is pushedin further, the locking of the push plate 108 is removed and then, whenthe pushing of the push plate 108 is removed, the push plate 108 returnsto its initial position and the picking plate 107 is rotated backwardlyto return to its initial position.

In the binding operation, when an operator grips and closes the upperand lower handles 102, 104 together to thereby push in the push plate108 by one stage, the picking plate 107 is rotated toward the fore sideand a wedge-shaped projection provided on the leading end of the pickingplate 107 is stuck to the leading end portion of the tape, so that theleading end portion of the tape is held by and between the picking plate107 and a tape support plate 109. Further, when the handle operation isonce removed to thereby open the upper and lower handles 102, 104, theleading end portion of the tape is pulled by the picking plate 107 andis thereby pulled out from the leading end portion of the driver handle102, so that the tape is strung between the driver handle 102 andclincher arm 103. In this state, when the branches of the plant andsupport posts are inserted into between the driver handle 102 andclincher arm 103, the tape loop is wound around the branches and supportposts (not shown).

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, the upper and lower handles 102, 104 areclosed to thereby form the tape loop and, in this state, when the upperand lower handles 102, 104 are gripped with a stronger force, a stapledriver 110 disposed on the driver handle 102 is lowered further to pushout a staple (not shown) stored within a staple magazine, the staple,which has penetrated through the two end portions of tape T, is buttedagainst the clincher 106 and is thereby bent, so that not only the tapeis bound but also a jagged cutter blade 112 pushes and cuts the tape Tin the vicinity of the bound portion thereof. Further, when the pushplate 108 is pushed in deep, the locking of the push plate 108 isremoved and the upper and lower handles 102, 104 are returned back totheir respective original positions, the picking plate 107 and pushplate 108 are returned back to their respective original positions shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows the front portion of the driver handle 102, in whichreference character 113 designates a handle frame and 114 stands for ahandle cover. The handle cover 114 is mounted on the handle frame 113;and, a clearance between the lower end of the front portion wall surfaceof the upper surface portion 114 a of the handle cover 114 hanging downfrom the front end of the upper surface portion 114 a and the lowersurface portion 114 b of the handle cover 114 provides a tape pull-outopening 115. The plate spring 116 is mounted on the lower surfaceportion 114 b of the handle cover 114. However, alternatively, the lowersurface portion 114 b can be omitted and, instead, the plate spring 116may be mounted directly on the handle frame 113 and thus the tapepull-out opening 115 may be formed between the handle cover 114 andhandle frame 113.

The tip end of the plate spring 116 faces upwardly and forwardly as wellas is elastically contacted with the ceiling surface of the handle cover114 in the vicinity of the wall surface of the front portion of thehandle cover 114. The tape T is pressed against the ceiling surface ofthe handle cover 114 by the leading end of the plate spring 116 and isthen pulled out through the tape pull-out opening 115. Since the tip endof the plate spring 116 is elastically contacted with the ceilingsurface of the handle cover 114 in the vicinity of the front end portionof the handle cover 114, the tape T is curved at a sharp angle with theleading end of the plate spring 116 as the boundary and is pulled outfrom the tape pull-out opening 115.

FIG. 5 shows the state of the driver handle 102 when the tape T ispulled out, in which the plate spring 116 is pushed down due to thetension of the tape T and the tape T is thereby pulled out from the tapepull-out opening 115. On the other hand, when, due to vibrations or dueto change in the attitude of the binding machine for gardening, the taperoll within the tape magazine 105 is reversely rotated and thus the tapeT is thereby pulled in the opposite direction, since the leading endportion of the tape T is curved downwardly at a sharp angle in and fromthe leading end of the plate spring 116 and is moved toward the tapepull-out opening 115, there is applied a force which allows the tape Tto pull the plate spring 116 upwardly, so that the tip end of the platespring 116 presses the tape T against the ceiling surface of the handlecover 114. Also, the pressure of the plate spring 116 increases as thepull-back tension of the tape T increases, thereby being able to preventthe tape T against reverse movement.

Next, description will be given below in detail of a second embodimentaccording to the invention with reference to the accompanying drawingsand, firstly, description will be given below of the whole structure andoperation of a binding machine for gardening according to the secondembodiment. FIG. 6 shows a binding machine for gardening 201, in which adriver handle 202, a clincher arm 203 and a lower handle 204 arecombined together in a pliers type, a tape magazine 205 is mounted onthe rear portion of the driver handle 202, tape T for gardening loadedinto the tape magazine 205 is inserted through a tape guide 206 mountedon the upper surface of the driver handle 202 and is pulled out from theleading end of the tape guide 206, and the tape T is then insertedthrough a vertical tape guide 208 provided on the leading end of astaple magazine and is hung downwardly. The driver handle 202 and staplemagazine 207 are connected together by a shaft 209 disposed on the rearportion of the staple magazine 207; and, similarly to an ordinarystapler, the staple magazine 207 can be rotated with respect to thedriver handle 202 in a slight angle range. A notch-blade-shaped cutterblade 210 is mounted on the leading end of the driver handle 202 and,slightly backwardly of the cutter blade 210, there is mounted aplate-shaped driver 211 which is used to eject the staple.

Next, description will be given below of the structure of the clincherarm 203 side. FIG. 7 shows a state in which, with the tape magazine 205and tape guide 206 omitted, the driver handle 202 and lower handle 204are gripped by the operator and the driver handle 202 and clincher arm.203 are thereby closed lightly. In this state, a clincher 212 disposedin the leading end portion of the clincher arm 203 is contacted with theleading end portion of the staple magazine 207, while the clincher 212is disposed opposed to a driver 211.

A picking plate 213, which is mounted on the front portion of theclincher arm 203 and can be rotated back and forth, is energized towardthe pivot shaft side (in FIG. 7, toward the right) of the bindingmachine 201 for gardening by a torsion coil spring 214 shown in FIG. 6and, as shown in FIG. 7, the picking plate 213 is opposed to a tapesupport plate 215 which is disposed on the fore side of the pickingplate 213. A stopper 216 is fixed to the vicinity of the base portion ofthe clincher arm 203; and, a clutch lever 217, which can be rotated upand down, is mounted on the bottom surface of the stopper 216. Betweenthe picking plate 213 and stopper 216, there is inserted a push plate218 which is long in the longitudinal direction thereof; and, as shownin FIG. 6, the push plate 218 is energized in the rising direction by atwist coil spring 220 interposed between a spring receive hole 219formed in the rear portion of the push plate 218 and the bottom surfaceof the clincher arm 203.

As shown in FIG. 7, the front end portion of the push plate 218 isengaged with the recessed portion of the front surface of the pickingplate 213, while the push plate 218 is pressed by the picking plate 213so that the rear end of the push plate 218 is pressure contacted withthe front surface of the stopper 216. In the rear portion of the pushplate 218, there is formed a projecting portion 221 which risesupwardly; and, in a state where the clincher 212 is contacted with thestaple magazine 207, the projecting portion 221 is moved nearer to or iscontacted with a roller 222 which is disposed on the driver handle 202.

When the driver handle 202 and clincher arm 203 are closed further fromthe state shown in FIG. 7, as shown in FIG. 8, the push plate 218 ispushed by the roller 222 and is thereby moved down and, as shown in FIG.9, the engagement between the push plate 218 and stopper 216 is removed,so that the push plate 218 is pushed by the picking plate 213 and isthereby moved back. The picking plate 213 is rotated toward the tapesupport plate 215 to stick into the leading end portion of tape (notshown) hanging down from the vertical tape guide 208 disposed on thefront surface of the staple magazine 207, and is contacted with the tapesupport plate 215 to thereby hold the leading end of the tape. When,from this state, the closing operation of the driver handle 202 andlower handle 204 is removed to open the driver handle 202 and clincherarm 203, the tape is pulled from the driver handle 202 side and isstrung between the driver handle 202 and clincher arm 203. Then, whenthe binding machine 201 for gardening is pushed out forwardly to insertthe branches of the plant and support posts into a space between thedriver handle 202 and clincher arm 203, the tape can be wound around thebranches and support posts.

Next, when the driver handle 202 and clincher arm 203 are closed tothereby provide a state shown in FIG. 9, the leading end portion of thetape (not shown) gripped by the tape support plate 215 is overlapped onthe downstream portion of the tape in the vicinity of the exit of thetape guide 208 to thereby form a tape loop. Then, when a clearancebetween the driver handle 202 and clincher arm 203 is narrowed further,as shown in FIG. 10, the driver 211 is butted against a staple withinthe staple magazine 207 to start ejecting the staple, while the cutterblade 210 is contacted with the tape in the vicinity of the upper edgeof the front surface of the tape support plate 215. At the same time,the inclined cam surface 223 of the lower surface of the rear portion ofthe push plate 218 is butted against the clutch lever 217 and, due tothe cam action of the inclined cam surface 223, the push plate 218starts advancing in linking with the lowering motion of the driverhandle 202. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, when the driver 211 ejects thestaple to bind the tape and the cutter blade 210 cuts the tape, thepicking plate 213 is rotated forwardly and is retreated from the passageof the cutter blade 210, and the rear end of the push plate 218 is movedup onto the front surface of the clutch lever 217. After completion ofthe binding operation, when the driver handle 202 and clincher arm 203are opened, as shown in FIG. 12, the push plate 218, which has beenreleased from the pressure by the roller 222, is raised together withclutch lever 217 by the twist coil spring 220 and the rear end of thepush plate 218 is engaged with the stopper 216, which returns thebinding machine for gardening to the initial state shown in FIG. 7.

Next, description will be given below of a tape guide apparatusaccording to a second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 13 shows thefront portion of a driver handle 202. A cylinder-shaped resin-made tapeguide 206, which is mounted on the upper surface of the driver handle202, is an integral molding which is composed of a bottom plate portion206 a and an upper cover portion 206 b connected together by a thinhinge portion, while the upper cover portion 206 b can be opened andclosed. On the front portion of the upper cover portion 206 b, there isdisposed a rib 206 c which hangs down from the ceiling surface of theupper cover portion 206 b; and, the tape is moved between the rib 206 cand a plate spring 224 mounted on the bottom plate portion 206 a and ispulled out from a lower end opening 206 d formed in the wall surface ofthe front portion of the tape guide 206.

FIG. 14 shows the plate spring 224, in which a single rectangular platespring is cut worked in the central portion thereof to form a U-shapedcut to thereby turn the single plate spring into a long spring portion224 a and a short spring portion 224 b, and the two long and shortspring portions 224 a and 224 b are formed so as to be able to operateindependently of each other. In a state where the upper cover portion206 b of the tape guide 206 is bound as shown in FIG. 13, the downstreamside long spring portion 224 a is elastically contacted with the rib 206c and the upstream side short spring portion 224 b is situated near tothe ceiling surface on the fore side of the rib 206 c. FIG. 15 shows astate in which the upper cover portion 206 b is opened and, in a statein which no stress is applied to the plate spring 224, the long springportion 224 a rises up to an angle equal to the short spring portion 224b to thereby provide a single spring shape.

FIG. 16 shows a state in which the tape T is pulled out in the bindingoperation. In this state, the long and short spring portions 224 a and224 b are pushed down due to the tension of the tape T and the tape T ispulled out almost linearly. FIG. 17 shows a case in which a rotationalforce in the reversing direction is applied to the tape roll within thetape magazine due to a change in the operating attitude of an operator;and, in this case, since the long spring portion 224 a and rib 206 chold the tape T between them, the tape existing between the rib 206 cand the tape roll is pulled back, when the short spring portion 224 b ispulled up due to the friction of the tape T. Because the tape T curvesalmost at right angles in the leading end of the short spring portion224 b, the frictional force between the short spring portion 224 b andtape T increases as the reversing tension of the tape T becomes strongerand thus the short spring portion 224 b bites into the tape T to therebyprevent the tape T from being reversed. Incidentally, in FIG. 14, theleading end portion of the short spring portion 224 b has an angularshape but it also may have such a notch-like shape as shown in FIG. 18.However, in a case where the leading end portion of the short springportion 224 b is formed in the angular shape or in the notch-like shapeto thereby reduce the contact area with respect to the tape, the contactpressure and friction per unit area increases to thereby be able toenhance the reversing prevention effect of the tape T. Also, instead ofcutting a single plate spring to thereby provide two long and shortspring portions, there may also be employed a structure composed of twosprings; that is, as shown in FIG. 19, two long and short plate springs225 and 226, which are produced separately, may be superimposed on topof each other. Further, as shown in FIG. 20, two plate springs 227 and228 may be disposed apart from each other, one on the upstream side andthe other on the downstream side. Still further, the projecting portion,with which the downstream side plate spring 227 can be contacted, may beother projecting portion than the above-mentioned rib-shaped projectingportion and, for example, it may be also be such a cylindrical-shapedprojecting portion 229 as shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 21 shows a third embodiment in which two ribs 206 c are disposedback and forth in series on the ceiling surface of the front portion ofthe upper cover portion 206 b and long and short spring portions 224 aand 224 b are respectively elastically contacted with their associatedribs 206 c so that the tape is held by and between the two pairs ofplate springs and ribs. In the binding operation, similarly to FIG. 16,the long and short spring portions 224 a and 224 b are pushed down dueto the tension of the tape T and thus the tape T is pulled out almostlinearly. However, unlike the previously described embodiment in whichno pressure is applied to the short spring portions 224 b to thereby setit free, the short spring portions 224 b is elastically contacted withthe rib 206 c and, therefore, the initial angle of the short springportions 224 b can be prevented from varying due to variations in thedimensions of springs caused by the producing errors thereof or due tothe deformation of the springs caused by the fatigue thereof or byexternal forces, which makes it possible to stabilize the pull-outresistance of the tape. Also, when the tape roll within the tapemagazine is reversely rotated and the tape is thereby pulled backwardlyas shown by the arrow mark, the short spring portion 224 b is buttedagainst the rib 206 c and thus the flexion angle thereof is limited,thereby being able to stabilize the reverse movement preventive effect.At the same time, in a case where the tape is pulled backwardly with astronger force when the tape roll is replaced, the short spring portion204 b can be prevented from flexing greatly, which makes it possible toprevent the short spring portion 204 b from being deformed.

FIG. 22 shows a fourth embodiment, in which, in addition to thestructure shown in FIG. 13, a stopper 231 made of sheet metal isdisposed on the short spring portion 224 b. The stopper 231 issuperimposed on top of the short spring portion 224 b and is mounted onthe bottom plate portion 206 a of the tape guide 206 to cover the shortspring portion 224 b from the base portion to the middle portionthereof. Since the stopper 231 limits the flexion angle of the shortspring portion 224 b, similarly to the embodiment shown in FIG. 21, thetape pull-out resistance and reverse movement preventive effect can bestabilized as well as the deformation of the short spring portion 224 bcan be prevented.

The invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments butvarious changes and modifications are possible without departing fromthe technical range of the invention. Accordingly, it goes withoutsaying that the invention covers these changes and modifications.

The present patent application is based on Japanese Patent Application(Application No. 2001-205373) filed on Jul. 5, 2001, Japanese PatentApplication (Application No. 2002-205373) filed on Mar. 20, 2002, andJapanese Patent Application (Application No. 2002-173115) filed on Jun.13, 2002, while the contents of these applications are incorporated intothe present patent application for reference.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As has been described heretofore, a tape guide apparatus in a bindingmachine for gardening according to the invention is structured suchthat, when a force to pull back tape to the tape roll side is applied tothe tape, a plate spring can hold the tape to thereby prevent the tapefrom being moved reversely. Thanks to this, there is eliminated apossibility that the tape roll within a tape magazine can be rotatedreversely due to vibrations and the leading end of the tape can bethereby pulled back, which can eliminate a fear for failure of binding.

1. A tape guide apparatus in a binding machine for gardening,comprising: a driver handle; a tape magazine storing tape and disposedon said driver handle; a tape guide mounted on said driver handle forforming a cylindrical tape passage upwardly of said driver handle; aclincher arm disposed in combination with said driver handle; a firstprojecting portion formed on an inner wall surface of said tape passage;a first plate spring disposed on the inner wall surface of said tapepassage opposed to said first projecting portion, having a leading endthereof directed toward the downstream side of said tape passage, andelastically contactable with said first projecting portion; and a secondplate spring disposed on the inner wall surface of said tape passageopposed to said first projecting portion, arranged in series with saidfirst plate spring, and having a leading end thereof directed toward thedownstream side of said tape passage, wherein said tape loaded into saidtape magazine is inserted into said tape passage and is pulled out fromthe leading end portion of said tape guide, and wherein said tape isheld by and between said first plate spring and said first projectingportion, and said second plate spring is contacted with said tape. 2.The tape guide apparatus in a binding machine for gardening as set forthin claim 1, further comprising: a fixing stopper mounted so as to extendfrom a base portion to a middle portion of said second plate spring forrestricting an oscillation angle of said second plate spring.
 3. Thetape guide apparatus in a binding machine for gardening as set forth inclaim 1, further comprising: a second projecting portion formed on theinner wall surface of said tape guide and arranged in series with saidfirst projecting portion, wherein said second plate spring can beelastically contacted with said second projecting portion, and whereinsaid tape is held by and between said second plate spring and saidsecond projecting portion.
 4. The tape guide apparatus in a bindingmachine for gardening as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first platespring and said second plate spring are an integrated plate spring oftwo long and short plate springs produced by working a U-shaped cut in asingle plate spring.
 5. The tape guide apparatus in a binding machinefor gardening as set forth in claim 1, wherein a tip end of said secondplate spring is formed so as to have an angular shape or a notch-likeshape.